Who can resist a Dachshund? With their long bodies, short stubby legs, adorable nicknames like "wiener dog", bold personalities and silly antics, you'd think they'd be the perfect dog for everyone.
Well, not necessarily...

Are you familiar with Dachshund health issues such as dental problems and Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVD)? Do you have the financial means for pay for things like dental cleanings and
back surgeries?

Dachshunds can live 18 years or longer. Can you commit to caring for a dog that long?

Most Dachshunds are not good with young children. Do you currently have young children, grandchildren or regular visitors under 7 years old, or are you planning to have children in the near future?

Many Dachshunds are Escape Artists, which means they can easily dig out of an unsecured yard or quickly dart through an open door or gate. Most Dachshunds cannot be trusted off-leash.

Dachshunds are hardheaded and difficult to house-train. If most of your home is carpeted, a Dachshund may not work for you.

Dachshunds have a strong prey drive. Many of them cannot be trusted around cats and other small pets. Wild animals like squirrels are extremely tempting to Dachshunds, which is another
reason Dachshunds should not be let off-leash outside of a fenced yard.

Dachshunds, especially younger ones, have a tendency toward separation anxiety and can become destructive if left alone for long periods of time. If you are gone most of the day, are you willing
to take them to doggie daycare or hire someone to check on them while you're gone?

Dachshunds are ALWAYS hungry and will eat as much as you let them. Overfeeding leads to obesity which contributes to back problems. If you believe in "free feeding", a Dachshund
may not be the right dog for you.

Our Adoption Criteria

Please read these carefully. If you do not meet the following criteria, your application may not be approved.

You must be at least 21 years old and have the financial means to take full responsibility
for the costs associated with pet ownership, including veterinary care, quality food, and pet supplies.

If you are living in someone else's home (a parent, for example), you must include them on the application as a co-applicant. If you are married, your spouse must be included as a co-applicant.

All companion animals MUST be spayed/neutered, and current on vaccinations and heartworm prevention. We will contact your veterinarian to confirm this. We will also ask your vet about any previous pets.

If you live in a house, we prefer that you have a fenced yard.

With few exceptions, we are hesitant to approve applicants with children younger than seven (7) years old.

Most of our adopters live in the greater Houston area, but we will consider out-of-area (and out-of-state) applications if you
are unable to find a Dachshund closer to you.
If you live more than 2 hours from Houston, you will need to provide photos of your home and yard (or be able to Skype or FaceTime with us),
and you must be willing to travel to Houston. We do not provide tranport for, or ship, our dogs.

Our Adoption Process

To ensure our applicants are serious about adopting, we charge a non-refundable application fee of $25.
If your application is approved, this amount will go toward your adoption fee. If your application is denied, we'll consider it a donation and send you a tax receipt.

Step 4: A volunteer will contact you for a Phone Interview to clear up any questions we might have.

Step 5: We'll schedule a Home Visit so you can show us where your new dog will sleep, eat and play.

Step 6: We all work together to find the right Dachshund for you and your family.

Step 7: You sign an Adoption Contract, pay the Adoption Fee, and take home your new family member!

Please Note

A submitted application does NOT guarantee you will be approved to adopt from DREAM.

An approved application does NOT guarantee you will be able to adopt a particular dog from DREAM. For example, the dog you're interested in might not be a good match for you, or
he/she may no longer be available by the time your application is approved.

Adoptive families must agree to periodic follow-up phone calls following the adoption.

We are committed to our dogs and require that you notify us if they cannot remain in your home.

50% off second Young/Adult adoption fee when two dogs are adopted together

Submission of your application confirms that you have read and understand our Adoption Criteria and Process and agree to our non-refundable Application Fee.

Please submit ONLY ONE application. A separate application is not required for every dog you're interested in.
If you have applied before, please email us at appcomm@dreamdachs.org before submitting a new application.

Click "Donate" below to pay your $25 non-refundable application fee.

If your application is approved, this amount will go toward your adoption fee.

You will be directed to our on-line application after you pay the fee.